MicrosoftbuysMinecraftmakerMojang

Microsoft has announced it is acquiring Minecraft software maker Mojang. Though neither side is confirming, Reuters previously suggested the deal could be worth $2.5 billion.

According to Microsoft:

At Microsoft, we believe in the power of content to unite people. Minecraft adds diversity to our game portfolio and helps us reach new gamers across multiple platforms. Gaming is the top activity across devices and we see great potential to continue to grow the Minecraft community and nurture the franchise. That is why we plan to continue to make Minecraft available across platforms – including iOS, Android and PlayStation, in addition to Xbox and PC.

On its own, Mojang is unlikely to develop a Windows Phone version of Minecraft – Pocket Edition, the mobile port currently available on iOS and Android whose download count makes up 40 percent of the 50 million copies of Minecraft sold so far across its supported platforms.

But under Microsoft, Mojang is bound to finally bring the popular sandbox game to Windows Phone, a move that’s likely to result in increased sales of Windows Phone smartphones.